Seahawks notes: Cards QB wary of Earl Thomas

All eyes were on Marshawn Lynch during Seahawks practice on sun-drenched fields at the team’s headquarters Wednesday. The Seahawks’ top rusher wore a baseball cap and continued to rest his bothersome back. Coach Pete Carroll said during his press conference that Lynch’s status will become more clear near the end of the week.

Receiver Golden Tate had a compression sleeve on his sprained knee, but appeared close to jogging if not running this week. Receiver Doug Baldwin looked very quick as he returned from his hamstring injury.

New tight end Evan Moore certainly stands out in a crowd. At 6-feet-6, he towers over most of his teammates. He gave way to Anthony McCoy and Zach Miller in most of the 11-on-11 drills.

We spoke on the phone with Arizona’s starting quarterback, John Skelton, and he’s very familiar with the Seahawks defense because he got to face them in the final game of last season.

Skelton says he has great admiration for Seattle’s Russell Wilson because it’s very difficult to be a starting rookie at the most demanding position in the NFL. Skelton is most concerned about Seahawks safety Earl Thomas and the multiple ways Seattle will use him against the Cardinals.

Skelton said the Cardinals’ offensive line is still in flux and Arizona will likely have a rookie starting at one of the positions.

During practice, Seahawks owner Paul Allen showed up to observe the talent he’s paying for in 2012. The Microsoft co-founder wore a Seahawks ballcap as he chatted with general manager John Schneider. Allen’s private float plane landed on the east channel of Lake Washington and waited at the Seahawks’ dock for his departure.